Sleepless

I should be exhausted. I don't know why I am not. Today, this week, this month have been draining. We went to the temple this morning, which is peaceful but also included 3 hours of driving (hour and a half each way). Then put the kids to bed and had a 20 min dip in the hot tub. So that leads me to updating my blog.
We are now in our first home. We have got almost everything unpacked and not much of anything on the walls. We want to paint but are a little indecisive about colors. Any suggestions would be appreciated, send pics of your house. We live in a home in Alexandria Kentucky. We are in a subdivision, it is mostly finished but there are still some empty lots here and there. We have almost half an acre. It backs up to a wooded area so no neighbors behind us. there is one of the empty lots to one side and a nice lady next door. It is about 25 minutes to work and about 35 to church. I love where we live. I really enjoy a small commute. but more than 35 min gets to be too long in my opinion.
The fun really started after we moved in. We gave the kids a bath and then got water spots on the ceiling underneath. It turned out to be something minor and I re-caulked the tub and there have been no more problems. The toilets had a weird flushing problem that I finally figured out and got fixed for 3 bucks and about 10 min. The hot tub was in really bad shape. It was NASTY. I had to drain it twice. Then when I did turn the power back on it wouldn't work. After flipping the power a few times it decided there was no problem after all. So that is in good shape now. Sharon changed all the locks. I was very proud. There are some minor issues with the design but they keep the bad guys out, so check that one off the list. The dryer cord had to be replaced, the washing machine pad was replaced (was actually difficult). and the big thing was the refrigerator. After about a week and a half of living here I noticed the milk wasn't that cold. so I flipped the dial and waited. The next day it was worse so I flipped it the other way... still bad. So we looked online and found if you unplug it for a day it will be fine. It was. Hallelujah. but then went bad again two weeks later. We called Dr. Phil the repairman out. he fixed it and also gave Sharon a lesson on how to make marriage work. that was weird.
Sharon and I take turns mowing the lawn. It takes about an hour, and I kind of enjoy it, for now. It is a cool feeling to be mowing MY lawn. Oh yeah the iris ladies came through and I have probably close to 150 different kinds of iris'. I need to get them planted, and if the rain stops I will next week. We also will be getting about 40 different kinds of Lillies. They should all look very nice in the spring. The other garden stuff that I am excited about is the thorn less blackberries. I will get about 5 chutes and hopefully they will be very fruitful!
Work is still going great. We are doing the right things and I am getting a reputation for being a good doctor. That is really cool and when we get a little more busy I will be much happier.
Holly turns 4 in about 2 weeks. I can't believe it. Life is rolling along.

Little town USA

SO I did end up taking the job in Falmouth, Kentucky. That is pronounced Fal Muth not Foul Mouth. I am the only chiropractor in the County! I am really enjoying it. I am learning a bunch as well. the owners of the Office come in once a week and check up and pay bills as well as do a little training for me and the rest of the office. I didn't think I would like it but I actually look forward to their advice. It is helping me be more efficient as well as more profitable.
I got my medicare number in record time. only took like three weeks! That may not seem like much to most of you reading this but they prepared me for like 6 months! so it was way fast. It basically means I am closer to making more money faster. Not that medicare pays much. it doesn't but when I am on with the major insurers then I will be getting a percentage of the profits rather that a salary. but whatever.
I also am becoming very involved with the city of Falmouth. I am on the "Falmouth Festival Committee" which means I help plan city wide events throughout the year. We are getting ready to have our 2nd annual Mud Wrestling tournament. It may sound silly but it is a lot of fun! There will also be 2 live bands, a bunch of vendors, including Falmouth Chiropractic Center and Aunt Thelma's Caramel Corn. Both of which I have a vested interest. I will be running the kids games which will include a frog hop race where the kids make frogs jump to the end of the track. A hula hoop contest and a sand castle contest. There will also be a Cornhole tournament. It should be fun. it is on June 6th!
I also have joined the Falmouth Chapter of the Lions Club. It is a club that works mostly to make sure that people of all ages have the necessary vision correction, (glasses for those who need them). It is a worthy cause and I am meeting some great people. We have an event coming up where we are going to be doing some screenings for preschoolers for free! anyone can call a lions club and get your church or daycare to have the same done in your area!
The only negative thing about the the job is the distance. It takes about and hour and a half to get to work. If I go one way it is close to a hundred miles. if I go the shorter way it is only 75 but much more slower as it goes through the little hills and back country. Either way is gorgeous right now. Spring is Kentucky can't be beat!
I also have been trapped by one of the people on the way to work. There is this little house with about 3 acres of road frontage that is all covered with iris, there is all different kinds and colors. The other day she had a sign out that they were for sale. so I stopped and talked to the cutest little old lady and she said to walk around and pick out which ones I liked and in July when the bulbs split she would label them and call me. I ordered 17. I met someone else who said she would give me for free any I wanted of her 400 different kinds. and I got 8 more. Both will probably send a bunch of other at the same time. I am probably going to end up with around 40 different kinds of iris! I am excited for next year! Also the second lady said I could come back in a few weeks and pick out any and as many kinds of day lilies I wanted. cool huh!
The kids are doing well. Check Sharon's blog for more details.
oh yeah and Sharon and I close on a house on the 17th of June!

Job?

So I got a job offer this last week. I have actually been given a few job offers but for some reason this one is more appealing than any other. It is for the most money, but that isn't the only reason. It is in the booming MEGA METROPOLIS of Falmouth. Population 2500. It is cute and little and chiropractic has a great reputation there. It is the only Chiro in the county. The chiropractor that was there a few years ago was also the Mayor of the town! I think that is kinda cool. Anyway. We are still debating and pondering and praying about weather or not this is a good thing. We may or may not move, if we did Cold Springs looks like it is at the top of our list. so it may or may not be a long commute. sorry this is so short. thought it had been awhile.
thanks for checking me out!

No Itch

We did it! We made it to the 7 year mark. I don't know how Sharon has put up with me for so long but she did. I am thankful for her and appreciate her for all that she does for me. She has been my support and confidant, She has been my best friend and play mate. She has mothered two children and mothers three daily.
In our 7 years together we have lived in 8 homes in 5 cities in two states. We have moved across the country and across town. We have moved little children and a little cat. we have moved from palm trees and perfect weather to a land of monthly power outages and snowstorms, ice storms, tornadoes, humidity, and worst of all BUGS! She has been happy and loving to our children through it all.
We have also doubled our family size in the last 7 years. we went from a happy couple to a fearsome foursome. We have a three and a half year old who knows everything and a 15 month old that is the mini version of a 10 man demolition unit. We also have the perfect cat that only occasionally yacks on our bedroom carpet. We still have very supportive parents, in-laws, and siblings that we have grown to love more all the time. We both have lost a grandfather but feel grateful for knowing them and know that they will both be there in the world to come to welcome us Home.
When we were married I had been laid off of work 2 weeks earlier. Sharon was working and was supportive to the fact that I would get another job. She didn't realize that 7 years later she would still be waiting for me to start my career. She is so patient. I changed majors twice but eventually earned a doctorate degree and then passed the national board exams. It will be only a matter of weeks until I will be able to be the supporter and husband she saw in me seven years ago. Her patience is inspiring.
We look different too. I have dyed my hair at least 3 times, permed it and gained or lost up to 45 pounds. Sharon has had 5 different haircuts, and gone from her cute little petite self to her "get outta my way" pregnant self and back down again. We have dieted and binged together. We have exercised and been lazy. We have both learned to love new foods, both healthy and less than healthy. It has been fun.
We grown together too. she has been patient while I learned to overcome flaws, as I have with her. We have been forgiving, mostly her, she is almost perfect. We have learned to compromise. I have learned to communicate more freely about my emotions and wants and desires. She has learned to give me an hour or two when I need it.
I love my wife so much more now than I did 7 years ago. I can only imagine how sad and lonely I would be with out her. I could not have done any of the thing I have done in the last 7 years with out her. She is best wife for me. She compliments and strengthens me in every way. She is my perfect match. I don't have the 7 year itch at all. I want another 7 years and then 7 more for eternity!
I love you Sharon!

That's Right World!

Well, it finally came. About a week ago, It seems like no one can actually do what they say they are going to do. The lady at the State Board was supposed to call me when they had everything. She didn't. A few other organizations were supposed to let me know when the things they were doing were done. They didn't either. It seems to me that if you work in any sort of licensing agency that one of the criteria must be that you are short or have to many chromosomes. Seriously. Doesn't it seem like the stupidest people on the planet are in charge of letting "us" (the rest of the educated world) do what we have been trained or want to do. Even public library ladies, (they can be the worst by the way). Why is it that smart people need permission from dumb people to do smart or good things. Ok, I admit that is a bit stereotypical. Not all people that work for licensing or accrediting agencies are retarded. But when I am in such a hurry to get stuff done and checked off the list, every little thing that slows me down seems like a big deal.
There I have it out of my system. I feel better.
My wife just told me that I sound prideful. She is just doing her job of keeping me humble. She is right. I don't mean to sound haughty or better than anyone else. I really don't. It is just frustrating when things that seam so simple take so long and no one keeps their word. I am appreciative of the work that has been done in my behalf so that I could be where I am today.
So Now I am licensed in the state of Kentucky. I have a few things going and all of them look great. I am setting off on my own. It is scary but exciting. I am most excited about getting to meet new people, and becoming a force of good in their lives. I am most nervous about all the business stuff. Treating people = No problem, Running a business = Scary but not unattainable problem.
Wish me luck! Here I go!

Still Waiting

I am hoping this week that I get a message from the state! I learned last week that the State has all the information they need except for the last page of my application that my school was supposed to send in. I gave them the paperwork in Early December and for some reason they forgot that one VERY IMPORTANT page. The lady at the board said that as soon as she gets that page that has to be mailed, it would take 24-48 hours to be complete and issue me a license! I am excited and frustrated at the same time!

The Wait

As of earlier this week I turned in all the information the Kentucky State Board of Chiropractic needs. By now or at the latest Tuesday they should have everything they need. That means soon I should be officially licensed. I am gonna make all y'all call me doc. but only for a little while. Then the novelty will wear off and I will just be Brad again. I feel like the kid in the above picture. We don't have that much snow but I would dig a path just like him. Thanks for all the good karma sent our way!